Garden implement.



No. 841,488. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

W. C. DOIDGB.

GARDEN IMPLEMBNT.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 5, 190e.

IVILLIAM C. DOIDGE, OF LODI, CALIFORNIA.

GARDEN INIPLEWIENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed lpril 6, 19061 Serial No. 310,018.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Dornen, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lodi, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Garden Implements, of whichthe following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to an implement which is especially designed forwork in gardens and like places.

It consists in a combination of devices for loosening the soil andclearing it of weeds and in details of construction, which will be morefully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a perspective view of my apparatus. Eig. 2 is a plan viewshowing an oblique adjustment. Figs. 3 and 4 are forms of cutters to beused in conjunction with the apparatus.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device for loosening upthe soil and clearing it of weeds, especially between rows of plants inwhich the width of space between the rows may vary, and by means ofadjustments carried by my apparatus I am enabled to adjust the cuttersto any desired width.

A is a bar having vertical holes made through it, and within these holesare 'litted tubular sleeves 2. IVithin these tubes vertical shafts arefixed in place in any suitable manner, as by .nuts 3, screwed upon theirupper ends.

To the lower ends of the shafts are 'fitted the thin flat disks 4, andthe shafts, with the tubes 2, may be adjusted upand down with relationto the bar A and fixed. at any point of adjustment by set-screws, as at5.

6 is a forked yoke pivotedcentrally and vertically to the bar A, and tothis yoke is fixed a handle, as at 7, for convenient operation of thedevice.

8 is a segment having holes or perforations around its periphery, andthe yoke 6 carries a pin 9, which is adapted to 'lit into any of theholes in the segment, and thus hold the bar A in the desired relationand angle with the handle '7. rIhus if the rows are su'lliciently farapart to allow the full width of the cutters to act the bar A may be setat right angles with the handle. Then by moving the apparatus back and.forth the blades 4 will be caused to cut any weeds and to loosen up theground, the edges of the blade being made thin or beveled for thispurpose.

In place of the disks 4 I may use the `flat plates of different lengths,as shown at 4a in Figs. 3 and 4, the edges of these plates beinglbeveled, as shown, to serve as hoes or cutters.

It will be understood that any other suitable or desired form of hoe orcutter may be employed in conjunction with the apparatus; but I prefercircular disks.

If the spaces between the rows are contracted, it is desirable to make anarrow cut in order not to injure the plants. The head Ais then turnedto stand at a more or less acute angle with the handle l7, as plainlyshown in Fig. 2, and it will be seen that by this adjustment the cuttersmay be moved much nearer together than when the head stands at rightangles with the handle. In this manner by varying the shape and size ofthe cutters and by changing the angles of the head to the handle almostany desiredwidth of cut may be provided for.

The depth to which the cutters enter the ground is regulated by raisingor lowering the handle 7 and correspondingly changing the inclination-ofthe cutters.

In order to smooth and pulverize the ground which may have been loosenedby the action of the cutters, I employ a rake composed of teeth, asshown at 10, Xed to a head 11. This head is bolted or otherwise securedto the head A by means of a suitable strap or connection 12 and swivelsupon the head A, so as to stand in the line of travel of the machinewhether it is working with the head at right angles with the handle 0robliquely thereto. The rake thus serves to pulverize and smooth thesurface of the ground after the action of the cutters.

The circular cutter is especially serviceable, because its edge isalways at the same distance from the center, where it is attached to thepost or stand, and therefore any change in the line of draft alwayspresents the same edge equally distant from the post and equallyefiicient in its work.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. 'A cultivator implement comprising a head, sleeves verticallyadjustable therein, cutters having standards passing through the sleevesand fixed relative thereto, a handle pivoted to said head, and a rackand means whereby the angle of the head to the handle may be varied.

2. In an earth cultivating and clearing device, a head having verticalsleeves extending IIO downwardly therefrom, shafts iixed within thehead, and cutter-blades ixed to the lower end of the shafts to work insubstantially horizontal planes, acurved segment formed'lupon the head,a slotted yoke and a handle secured thereto, and interlocking meanswhereby the head and its cutters may be set at different angles with theyoke and handle.

3. In an im lement for cultivating and weeding the soil, a head havingverticallydisposed sleeves, shafts fixed within the sleeves havingcutters fixed horizontally to their lower ends, means forindependently.' adjustingxthe sleeves and cutters with rela?! tion tothe head, a segmental rack fixed to the head, a forked yoke pivoted tothe head to extend radially with relation to the rack,

a handle fixed to the yoke, and means for locking the yoke to thesegment at di'Ierent angles with the head and its cutters.

4. In a device for cultivating' and clearing the soil, a head 'havingvertical adjustable sleeves, shafts extending therethrough with cuttersixed to the lower ends, a handle and means Jfor varying its positionwith relation to the head, and a rake swiveled to said head adapted tofollow the line of travel of the cutters.

In testimony whereoi1 I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit-

